The historic and uniquely designed Cannonball Jail in Carlinville, Illinois, will host a “Jail House Rock” event on July 29 before it opens regularly for tours in August.
The former Macoupin County Jail will host the “Jail House Rock” event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on July 29, including photo opportunities to show yourself or your chums behind bars during self-guided tours. Reno’s, a pizza and Italian food restaurant in Carlinville, will operate a food truck there.
Starting in August, the Cannonball Jail will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Tours are free, but donations will be accepted.
The Cannonball Jail is directly across Route 66 from the so-called Million Dollar Courthouse.
The former Macoupin County Jail was built about 1869, using cannonballs to aid in its stone construction to make it escape-proof. The upper floor served as a residence for the jailer or the sheriff.
The jail was closed in 1988 when a new county jail was built nearby.
Last year, the Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau received a $919,000 state grant to help reopen the jail and other sites along Route 66.
The jail sits on a 1926-30 alignment of Route 66, just east of the downtown square.
(Image of Macoupin County’s old jail by Jimmy Emerson, DVM, via Flickr)